Thread storage reel



Dec. 18, 1951 R, W STANLEY 2,578,905

THREAD STORAGE REEL Filed Sept. 8, 1947 l0 40- I Y l M R/CHARD W. .STANLEY Patented Dec. 18, 1951 THREAD STORAGE REEL Richard W. Stanley, Drexel Hill, Pa., alsignor to American Viscose Corporation, Wilmington,

Del., a corporation of Delaware Application September 8, 1947, Serial No. 772,838

l 6 Claims.

This invention relates to thread advancing reels for forming a thread store comprising a plurality of spaced turns of thread that are continually advanced in an axial direction along the periphery of the reel. The thread may be only stored on the reel or may be subjected to uid treatment on the reel in the manner and for the purposes conventional in the art.

The invention has for a principal object to provide an improved form of thread advancing reel of simpliiledand durable construction on which turns of thread are positively moved in an axial direction while maintaining a uniform spacing between turns of thread on the reel.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a form of thread advancing reel embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view of the form of thread advancing reel shown in Figure 1, the section being taken on the line A---AY in Figure 1.

This invention may be used for handling yarn, laments, tow, bands, ribbons, and the like, as well as thread and the term thread as used above and hereinafter is intended to be inclusive.

The invention in general comprises two cylindrical cage-like members each comprising a plurality or set oflongitudinally extending circumferentially spaced thread supporting bars that are mounted to rotate on parallel spaced apart or eccentric axes disposed within the periphery of each f the cage-like members. The thread supporting bars making up one of the cage-like members are positioned between the thread supporting bars making up the other. The thread supporting bars of one of the cage-like members are stationary in the sense that they are fixed and restrained from movement in an axial or longitudinal direction while means are provided for moving the thread supporting bars of the other set back and forth in a longitudinal or axial direction. Means are also provided for supporting the thread supporting bars of the other set and constraining them during their longitudinal motion so that their thread contacting surfaces move in a path that is a portion of a cylindrical surface, the axis of the cylinder being the axis about which the movable thread supporting bars revolve.

Referring to the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings. reference character 2 inl cylindrical member.

(Cl. 2li-31.7)

. 2 dicates a stationary shaft having fixed thereto a stationary eccentric shaft-like extension 3 the axis of which is parallel to that of the shaft. The reel structure is rotatably mounted on the shaft and extension which serves as a supporting means for the reel. The reel structure comprises two cylindrical cage-like members. One cagelike member generally indicated by reference character l has a plurality of circularly spaced thread supporting bars 5 that are mounted to rotate about the axis of the shaft 2 and are stationary insofar as they are constrained from moving in a longitudinal or axial direction. The other cylindrical cage-like member generally indicated by reference character 6 has a plurality of circularly spaced thread supporting bars I that are mounted to rotate about the axis of the eccentric extension and are movable in a longitudinal or axial direction. The thread supporting bars of one cage member are each positioned between thread supporting bars of the other cage member.

The stationary thread supporting bars 5 are fixed at one end to the circular rim member 8 and at the other end to the attaching ring member 9. The attaching ring is xed to the supporting flange-like member 36 that is secured by the locking ring I0 to the drive sleeve I I mounted on the bearing I2 to rotate about the axis of the `shaft 2. Suitable means not shown are provided for rotating the drive sleeve.

The movable thread supporting bars I each have a thread contacting portion I4 xed to a supporting portion I5 by screw means I3. The supporting portion is formed with a central depending portion I6 having parallel sides and laterally extending shoulder portions I1. The movable thread supporting bars are slidably mounted in the shell-like member I8 having the axially extending cylindrical portion I9. The cylindrical portion is formed with axially extending slots or cut out portions 20, the side walls of which are parallel to the axis of the shaft extension. The depending portions I6 of the thread supporting bars extend into the slots with their parallel sides in engagement with the side walls of the slots and their laterally extending shoulders seating on theadjacent portions of the The movable thread supporting bars are fixed to the garter springs 2I and 22 by the clip means 2l xed to each bar. The spring means draws the thread supporting bars inwardly with the shoulder portions firmly seated against the adjacent portions of the cylindrical member. The shell-like member is provided with a plurality of axially extending mem- 29 is positioned between the hub of the shell-like member and the inner annular -portion of the double sleeve-like member and the lock nut. The outer periphery of the outer annular portion of the double sleeve member is cylindrical but is canted and its axis extends at an angle to the axis of the extension of the shaft. An annular hub member 30 having a central rib 3l is jour- .naled on the outer annular portion of the double sleeve member. The wobble disks 32 and 33 are centrally mounted on the hub member and are drawn toward each other by the bolts 34 to engage the shoulders of the central rib and flexibly engage the depending portions of the thread supporting bars adjacent the peripheries of the disks. As shown, the wobble disks are relatively thin which permits the portions of the wobble disks adjacent their peripheries which engage a bar to flex slightly as the angle of contact of the wobble disks and the bar changes.

The cage members are ofv the same diameter and are eccentric to one another the same amount as the eccentricity of the shaft extension to the shaft.

Sealing means are provided for preventing the entrance of corrosive liquids or vapors to the inner parts of the reel comprising` the flexible cup-like member 31 of exible corrosion resistant synthetic rubber, plastic, or the like material. The sealing member is clamped between the attaching ring member and the supporting ilangelike member and between the thread contacting portion and the supporting portion of the thread supporting bars.

A dolng ring 33 having suflicient clearance with the rim portion is mounted on the reel by the screw members 39 that are threaded through the sealing member into the bosses 40 on the shell-like member.

An annular protective cover member 4i is positioned around the reel adjacent one end and is fixed to a stationary standard 42.

In order to lubricate parts of the reel and to reduce friction, parts that slide on other parts, such as the double sleeve-like member and the supporting portions of the movable thread supporting bars, may be of oil impregnated bronze.

In the operation of this embodiment of the invention the drive sleeve rotates the stationary thread supporting bars in a circular path about the axis of the stationary shaft and in turn rotates the movable thread supporting bars on the shell-like member in a circular path about the axis of the shaft extension that is eccentric to the shaft. Due to the periphery of the outer annular member of the stationary double sleeve member being canted or inclined to the axis of the shaft extension, the wobble plates or disks rotate in parallel planes that are inclined to the axis of the eccentric extension of the shaft. The double sleeve-like member is so positioned with respect to the shaft extension that when the movable thread supporting bars are beyond the periphery of the stationary thread supporting bars. the movable thread supporting bars are positively moved to the left as shown in Figure 1 of the drawing and when the movable thread supporting bars are within the periphery of the other bars they are positively moved in the opposite direction. The movable bars remain -in contact with the shell-like member during their axial movement and during 'their rotation all parts of the thread contacting surfaces move ln cylindrical paths concentric with the axis of the shaft extension and the cylindrical conformation of the cage-like member made up of the axially movable bars is preserved.

The arrangement of the parts of this reel provides a construction that is rigid and that retains the proper alignment of the bars during their operation so that all parts of the thread passing over the reel is handled the same way.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A thread advancing reel comprising a pair of longitudinally extending cage-like members each having a plurality .of thread supporting bars, the thread supporting bars of one cage-like member being positioned between the thread supporting bars of the other cage-like member, means for supporting the thread supporting bars of the two cage-like members for rotation about parallel eccentric axes, means engaging both ends of the thread supporting bars of one of the cagelike members for moving those thread supporting bars in a longitudinal direction, and means for urging the longitudinally movable thread supporting bars radially inwardly against their supporting means, the supporting means for the longitudinally movable thread supporting bars radially supporting the bars and having spaced longitudinally extending portions laterally engaging the thread supporting bars throughout their length to guide the thread supporting bars during their longitudinal movement.

2. A thread advancing reel comprising a pair of longitudinally extending cage-like members each having a plurality of thread supporting bars,

the thread supporting bars of one cage-like member being positioned between the thread supporting bars of the other cage-like member, means for supporting the thread supporting bars of the 5,-, two cage-like members for rotation about parallel eccentric axes, means for moving the thread supporting bars of one of the cage-like members in a longitudinal direction, the supporting means for the longitudinally movable thread supporting bars comprising a member mounted to rotate about the axis about which the longitudinally movable bars are rotatable, said member having a hub portion and a longitudinally extending cylindrical portion in which cylindrical portion there are formed circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending slots, the side portions of which engage the longitudinally movable thread supporting bars to guide them during longitudinal movement, a stationary sleeve-like member having a cylindrical inner and outer wall, the inner supporting the longitudinally movable thread supporting bars extending into the sleeve-like member and rotatable about the inner wall thereof and with the means for moving the thread supporting bars longitudinally, rotatably mounted to rotate about the outer wall of the sleeve-like member.

3. A thread advancing reel comprising a pair of longitudinally extending cage-like members each having a plurality of thread supporting bars, the thread supporting bars of one cage-like member being positioned between the thread supporting bars of the other cage-like member, means for supporting the thread supporting bars of two cage-like members for rotation about parallel eccentric axes, and rotatable means rotatable and extending in a plane inclined to the axes about which the thread supporting bars rotate engaging the thread supporting bars of one of the cage-like members for moving those thread supporting bars in a longitudinal direction, the supporting means for the longitudinally.y movable thread supporting bars having spaced longitudinally extending portions laterally engaging the thread supporting bars to guide the thread supporting bars during their longitudinal movement.

4. A thread advancing reel comprising a pair of longitudinally extending cage-like members each having a plurality of thread supporting bars, the thread supporting bars of one cagelike member being positioned between the thread supporting bars of the other cake-like member, means for supporting the thread supporting bars of two cage-like members for rotation about parallel eccentric axes, and a pair of rotatable means rotatable and extending in planes inclined to the axes about which the thread supporting bars rotate for engaging and moving the thread supporting bars of one of the cage-like members in a longitudinal direction, the supporting means for the longitudinally movable thread supporting bars having spaced longitudinally extending portions laterally engaging the thread supporting bars to guide the thread supporting bars during their longitudinal movement.

5. A thread advancing reel comprising a pair of longitudinally extending cage-like members each having a. plurality of thread supporting bars, the Athread supporting bars of one cage-like member being positioned between the thread supporting bars of the other cage-like member, means for supporting the thread supporting bars of the two cage-like members for rotation about parallel eccentric axes, means for moving the thread supporting bars of one of the cage-like members in a longitudinal direction, and means for urging the longitudinally movable thread supporting bars radially inwardly against their supporting means, the longitudinally movable thread supporting bars having laterally extending shoulder portions and a depending central portion, the supporting means for the longitudinally movable thread supporting bars comprising a member having a cylindrical periphery and formed with longitudinally extending slots into which the depending central portions of the thread supporting bars extend with the shoulder portions engaging the cylindrical periphery of the supportingy member.

6. A thread advancing reel comprising a pair of longitudinally extending cage-like members each having a plurality of thread supporting bars, the thread supporting bars of one cage-like member being positioned between the thread supporting bars of the other cage-like member, means for supporting the thread supporting bars of the two cage-like members for rotation about parallel eccentric axes, means for moving the thread supporting bars of one of the cage-like members in a .longitudinal direction, the longitudinally movable thread supporting bars having laterally extending shoulder portions and a depending central portion, the supporting means for the longitudinally movable thread supporting bars comprising a member having a cylindrical periphery and formed with longitudinally extending slots into which the depending central portions of the thread supporting bars extend with the shoulder portions engaging the cylindrical periphery of the supporting member, and an annular spring member connected to the longitudinally movable thread supporting bars to urge the thread sup' porting bars against the cylindrical periphery of the supporting member.

RICHARD W. STANLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of recordln the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,175,218 Samerdyke Oct. 10, 1939 2,230,493 Jordan Feb. 4, 1941 2,396,297 Stanley Mar. 12, 1946 v2,435,430 Ewing Feb. 3, 1948 2,469,767 Hellbach May 10, 1949 

